Caffeine, Coffee and Parkinson’s- Friend or Foe?

Written By: Renee Rouleau- M.S. Neuroscience and Bridges for Parkinson’s Medical Science Advisor

I could never live without my coffee machine at home, and I know many of you can relate! Coffee, espresso, and even tea have become daily (or more-than-daily) rituals for many of us—sometimes starting as early as our teenage years. Interestingly, several studies have found that people who regularly drank coffee earlier in life may have a lower risk of developing Parkinson’s disease (PD), so perhaps those early coffee habits worked out after all (Prediger et al., 2010; Yang et al., 2024). Because of this association, caffeine is often viewed as a potential “brain protector.”

For people already living with Parkinson’s, however, the story is more complex. Caffeine can help with certain symptoms—but it can also worsen others, depending on the individual, the amount consumed, and the medications being used.

Caffeine works by stimulating the central nervous system and blocking the effects of adenosine, a chemical that promotes sleep and relaxation. By interfering with adenosine, caffeine essentially tricks the brain into feeling more alert. In Parkinson’s, this stimulation may temporarily improve energy, cognition, and even mild motor symptoms such as slowness. Some research suggests that caffeine may modestly improve movement or reduce fatigue in certain individuals with PD (Prediger et al., 2010; Ren et al., 2020).

That said, studies have not consistently shown that caffeine slows disease progression or provides meaningful long-term symptom relief. In fact, some research indicates that while caffeine may offer short-term benefits, overall symptom progression may remain unchanged over time (Saarinen et al., 2024). In other words, coffee may help some people feel better temporarily, but it is not a treatment for Parkinson’s disease.

For many individuals with PD, caffeine can also create challenges. Because Parkinson’s already affects the nervous system, caffeine may worsen tremor, anxiety, heart palpitations, or insomnia—even in people who did not experience these issues before diagnosis. Sleep disturbances are extremely common in PD, and caffeine consumed later in the day can significantly exacerbate them. Additionally, caffeine can irritate the stomach and worsen acid reflux or nausea, both of which are frequent non-motor symptoms of Parkinson’s. Dehydration is another concern in PD, and relying heavily on caffeinated beverages without adequate water intake can increase dizziness or worsen low blood pressure.

It’s also worth noting the familiar post-caffeine “slump,” when energy dips and movement feels slower. This effect may be especially noticeable during an “off” period for individuals taking carbidopa-levodopa. While there are no officially recognized adverse interactions between caffeine and Parkinson’s medications, combining caffeine with medication—especially on an empty stomach—may worsen nausea or overall discomfort for some people.

For people with Parkinson’s who enjoy coffee, moderation and timing are key. Many do best with smaller amounts earlier in the day, paired with adequate hydration. Others may prefer lower-caffeine options such as half-caf coffee or tea. When fatigue or brain fog is a concern, non-caffeine strategies—like regular meals, balanced protein intake, physical activity, good sleep habits, and medication adjustments—are often more effective and safer over the long term.

As with many aspects of Parkinson’s care, caffeine is neither universally “good” nor “bad.” Working with a neurologist and a registered dietitian can help determine whether coffee is a helpful tool—or an unnecessary trigger—for managing individual symptoms.

References:

Prediger RDS. Effects of Caffeine in Parkinson’s Disease: From Neuroprotection to the Management of Motor and Non-Motor Symptoms. Journal of Alzheimer’s Disease. 2010;20(s1):S205-S220. doi:10.3233/JAD-2010-091459

Ren X and Chen J-F (2020) Caffeine and Parkinson’s Disease: Multiple Benefits and Emerging Mechanisms. Front. Neurosci. 14:602697. doi: 10.3389/fnins.2020.602697

Saarinen, E.K., Kuusimäki, T., Lindholm, K., Niemi, K., Honkanen, E.A., Noponen, T., Seppänen, M., Ihalainen, T., Murtomäki, K., Mertsalmi, T., Jaakkola, E., Myller, E., Eklund, M., Nuuttila, S., Levo, R., Chaudhuri, K.R., Antonini, A., Vahlberg, T., Lehtonen, M., Joutsa, J., Scheperjans, F. and Kaasinen, V. (2024), Dietary Caffeine and Brain Dopaminergic Function in Parkinson Disease. Ann Neurol, 96: 262-275. https://doi.org/10.1002/ana.26957

Yang, Y., Zhou, Z.D.,Yi, L., Tan, J-W.,Tan, E-K. Interaction between caffeine consumption & genetic susceptibility in Parkinson’s disease: A systematic review. (2024). Ageing Research Reviews, 99. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.arr.2024.102381